Folding chair



KovATs FOLDING CHAIR Oct 1934.

Filed Feb. 21. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

RNEY

Oct 9, 1934. J. KOVATS 1,976,567

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Feb. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheefi 2 AT NEY Patented Oct. 9, 1934 f serene-0mm -J0hn-..-Kovats,';:Fairfield, com; assigiior toThe Leg-O-Matie. Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a. corporation Connecticut Application February .21, rear, Serial NoL 517,428 A This invention relatespin general, to ifoldable chairs, and more specifically to 'a new'and use; ful improved construction for automatically moving the chairleg's'into either'a folded or extended position when the back is moved. In general it is animprovement 'onthe' foldable chair disclosed in my prior a pIiCatiO'nQSe'riaI No. 446,537, filed April-23, 1930: M Itis'an' object of the present invention to pro; vide a very simple mechanism for folding and extending thechair legs} which Willb positive in-its action.- I

A featureof' the inventionisthe p'ro'vi's'ionfof an improved-pivotal supportingfmeans for the back member and rear legs."

"Another featureisthe" provision of media:

nism-which serves to move theb'ottom end of the back memberinto a 'plane'with the'i coatin the front legs,- and spaced 'substantially'ap t the chair is moved'to folded position;

' Awsti-ll further feature of themvent oii" is the" provision of means for folding the baegmaser and legs insuch manner that'the"metalworking parts of said means will not engage and mar the floor when the chair is folded and stood on end Other featuresandadvantages will n rds:

after appear. i

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective View" oftheimproved present invention in .extendedposichair of' the tion. V Fig. 2-i'sa perspective view of'the folded position standing on end;

Fig. '8 is a longitudinal section through the center of the chair, showing the parts in extended or unfolded condition, the free or end portions of the'back and legs being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the chair shownin' Fig.

3, with the seat member removed.

Fig; 5 is a longitudinalsection through the cen:

ter of the'chairjsimilar to Fig; 3; but shows the back and legs inpartially folded position'f Fig. 6 is --a longitudinal'sectionthrough fthef.

center of the chair, similar to Figs. 3 andS, but

10 of any suitable construction and may; shown,

include two side bars ll interconnectedwitha front bar 12 s1ightly recessed as at 13 forfcarryingj the seat proper 14 'of'any suitable material or "con-j 5 at the rear edge, which is a common shape for errands fland a lower extension29. These brackets are shows theback and'legs in fully folded position.

The improved chair comprises a seatmember' vFig.6. struction. Theseat member 10-maybefof' anv j idesired shape, of course, but in the present con i. .19 Claims? (01. 155-1 148) I chair seata-and givesja desirable attractive appearance. This. arrangement also permits -'the front legS. l5..to.befspaced somewhat widerapart than therear, legs 16'so that they Will fold lon- R gitudinally adjacent each other against the 'undersidegf the seat member and will not interfere with each other, asshownin Fig. 6, and as'describedmore' completelyhereinaften' I 'IfhQIIIOIJtfIGgS 15 in the. present construction are. pivotedto the seat member 10 adjacent the front edge thereof preferably-by means ocfbrackets 17 secured to the seat member 10 and having a downwardly ,extendingear 13 forming asupport for a stud 19. upon which the leg is mounted forpivotal movement to either a folded oran 0 lae dedm ition.

' For thepurpose of: moving the front legs;15

into theirgextended position and.for drawingthem into f lded position, the present invention provides a, toggle 20.. for. each front leg comprising ,a pair of toggle links. 21 and 22 pivot-ed on-a stud 2315 the. side bar 11 of the seat member 10, and .at. its,othenendpivotedon a stud-24 to the frohtgleg 1.5. and pivoted intermediate these pivots with a rivet,.25. .When the toggles 20 are in fully extended position, as shown in Fig.3 with the squared end26 .of the. leg in engagement with a. flat surface of the bracket 17, .they serve to effectively brace. the front legs.

Neartheirear edge of the seat member 10, -abracket 27 is fastened to each of the'side bars 11 and is provided with an upper extension 28 preferably mounted .on the inner portion of the sidebars 11 with wood screws 30 or the like, in order tobe inconspicuous. The downturned extensions ,29 of the brackets .serve .as pivots for rear legslfi andto thisflendthe rear legs arepreferably provided with-plates 31 fixed thereon with wood screws. 32, and having extensions 33 provided with a hole aligned with a cooperating hole in the bracket extensions (29 in order to be pivotally connected to the seat member 10 when rivets 3d are passed. therethroughr The extensions 33 on the. rearlegs 15 and lower. extensions 1100 29 on the seat brackets 27 and the pivot con-'- nection 34 thereon .make it possible totmove the rear legsto the extendedposition. as shown in Fig. 3,. or the, folded position as. shown. in"1 In'ordr to limit the movement of the'rearle'gs, 16 into extended position, the present invention provides a toggle 35 for each of the rear legs 16 comprising a pair of toggle links 36 and 37 connected to a stud 38 on the seat member 10 and at the other end connected by a stud 39 to the rear leg 16 and pivoted intermediate these pivots with a rivet 40. These toggles serve to brace the rear legs.

When the front leg toggles 20 and rear leg toggles 35 are folded in a manner hereinafter described, they serve to move both the front legs 15 and rear legs 16 into the folded position shown in 'Fig. 6. They also serve to limit movement of the legs into extended position, shown in Fig. 3, and serve to effectively brace the legs against spreading movement when a load is imposed upon the seat member, as when a person sits upon the foldable chair. The legs can be further braced by a cross member 41 on the front legs and a similar cross member 42 on the rear legs to brace the legs against sidewise pressure.

Pivoted to the upper extensions 28 of the brackets 27 is a back member43 of any suitable construction, such as the side bars 44 and back panel 45 between them of any suitable material and design. The back member is preferably piv oted to the brackets 27 by a plate member46 rigidly connected with bolts 47 to the side bars 44 of the back and pivoted to the bracket extension 28 with a pivot stud 43. The pivot 48 on the back member plates 46 is preferably offset slightly with respect to the front edge of the side bars 44 so that the back member will lay substantially fiat against the seat member 10 when the back is moved into the folded position shown in, Fig. 6. Movement of the back into the extended position shown in Fig.3 is limited by an edge 49 on the back member plates 46 engaging a cooperating edge 50 on the rear leg plates 31, as shown in Fig. 3. I 1

According to the present invention, the front leg toggles 20 and rear leg toggles 35 are arranged to be controlled, that is, moved from eitherfolde'd position to extended position, or vice versa, automaticaly when the back member 43 is'moved into folded or extended position with relation to the seat member 10. .To this end there is provided a lon actuator link 51, for each of the front leg toggles 20, which is connected to an actuator pivot 52on the lower end of the back member 43,

preferably on the plate 46, and extendingfor' Wardly underneath the seat member 10 to a pivot 530m the front toggles 20. The particular location of the pivot 53 is governed by' the offset location of the-back member actuator pivot 52 with respect to the back member pivot 48,-and depending upon just what amount of movement itfis desired to give the back member 43 and the front legs 15.

'The rear leg toggles 35 are similarly controlled by the back member 43, to be automatically moved into folded or extended positions by the provision of a short actuator link 54 which is pivotally connected to the back member 43 preferably on the offset or actuator pivot 52 already provided for the long actuator link 51, and at its front end is preferably connected to the toggle 35 on the intermediate pivot 40. The location of the rear toggle pivots 40 and the front toggle pivots 53 with respect to the actuator pivot 52 and 'the' latter with respect to the back member pivot'48,

is such that relative movements between the front legs 15, back legs 16, and backmemb'er 43 are substantially in unison and the legs lie in a substantially flat position against the bottom ofthe seat member when the back member is menu ally moved into a position substantially flat against the top of the seat member when folding thev chain v and 54 rearwardly.

Coming now to the operation of the improved chair, the operator merely grips the front edge of the seat member 10, usually the cross bar 12, and then, taking hold of the back member 43 with the other hand swings the back on its pivot 48 over onto the seat member, an intermediate position being shown in Fig. 5. As the back memher is swung on its pivot, the offsetor actuator pivot 52 thereon is moved downwardly and rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 6, and in this movement it pulls the interconnected toggle actuator links 51 Initial movements of these links 51 and 54 pulling on the toggle pivots 53 and 40 first break the toggles 20 and 35, then, upon further movement of the back member, continue to fold the toggles and thereby move the front legs'l5 and rear legs 16 about the pivots 19 and 34 respectively to fold the front legs rearwardly and fold the rear legs forwardly against the underside of the seat member, as shown in Fig. 6.

In View of the fact that the front legs 15 are spaced somewhat wider apart than the rear legs 16, the former will fold outside the later without interfering with each other.

It should be particularly noted that, according to the present invention, the pivotal connection 48 between the back member 43 and seat member 10 is such that the end 55 of'the back member 43 is in alignmentwith the bottom end 56 of the front leg 15 when the chair is in folded condition, to providejwide spaced supports upon which the chair will stand very steadily when the folded chair is placed on end, as shown in Fig. 2, and the Ii" of particular importance should the floor be polished or painted.

The hereinbefore described connections be tween the back member 43 and the front and rear legs 15 and 16 also make it possible for the operator to merely grasp the seat member 10 and manipulate the back member 43 in order to move all the legs into extended position automatically when the back member is moved out of folded position, for,.as the back member is moved toward extended position about the pivot 43, the

offset or actuator pivots 52 thereonare moved downwardly and forwardly, and at the same time move the toggle actuator links 52 and 54 forwardly. In this forward movement, the actua- V tor links 52and54 push 'against'the pivots 53 and 40 to extend thetogg-les 2,0 andv 35 respectively, :1

and therebymove the front legs 15 and rear legs 16 and the togglesZOand 35 therefor into. the

fully extended position as the back member 43 moves tothe operative position shown in Fig.3;

At substantially the same time that the legs. andll-zi toggles reach the extended. position, the edge 49 of the back member plate 46 engages the edge 50 of the rear leg plate 31, to limit movement of the back member 43 and to support it solidly in its extended position, especially when an occu- 1'.

pant leans against the back.

Although is preferred to pivotally. connect seat brackets 27 through the plate s 31 and 46,

the rear legs 1.6.and theback member-43 -to the are concerned," it i'sgpossibleQt '4 V vota-lly connect the legs and back member to the seatrhrackets 27 Without the use'of these plates, orgconnectzthe back member 43 and rear-legs lfi vithgtheir respective plates 46 and 3 1 to thepseat member; 10 Without the use of bracketsZj, Becauseptadded strength and improvedworking relationship-between the various noving ;par ts ;iti 3now.;considered preferable to i-use the plates jl and=t46 and brackets 2'? hereinbefore describedjn-detafl.

Similarly, it should be appre iateditbat aysingle front toggle ZOQre-ar toggle 3 5,;a nd single-actuator links 52and54 respectively therefor may'seifve to move and hold 'allthelegs l5 and; lfivwhenw the connector bar 41 betweenthe two front legs and the similar connector bar 42 between the two rear legs is provided; but, .forgreaterstrength and better controlof the moving parts; it is:prcferred to provide a toggle and actuator link for each of the front and rear legs.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may beused without the1's.:'.=

Having thus described the invention iwhat-iis claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters-Patent, is:- 1. A foldable chair comprising aseat member; a back member pivoted to said seat member for .movement into either a folded or an extended position; front legs having a pivot connection with the seat member; rear legs also pivoted to said seat member for movement into either a folded or an extended position; a pair of toggle links pivoted respectively to the seat member and rear legs and having an intermediate pivot about which said links rotate relative to each other; and a link connection between said back member and the intermediate pivot on said pair of toggle links adapted to operate said toggle links to move "the rear legs into closed position and into extended position when said back member is moved into closed and into extended positions respectively.

2. A foldable chair comprising a seat member;

" "'sheet metal brackets adjacent the rear edge thereof; a back member having a pair of plates fixed thereon at opposite sides and pivoted to said brackets to permit movement of the back member into either a folded or an extended position; front legs having a pivot connection with the seat member; rear legs having plates fixed thereon and also pivoted to said brackets to permit movement of said legs into a folded or an extended position; a pair of toggle links pivoted respectively to the seat member and rear leg plates and pivoted together intermediate these pivots; and an actuator link connection between said back member plate and the intermediate pivot on said pair of toggle links adapted to ope'rate said toggle links to move the rear legs into closed position and into extended position when said back member is moved into closed and into extended positions respectively.

. A foldable chair comprising a seat member;

' to the seat member and rear legs and pivoted together intermediate th'e'se pivots an actuator :link pivotally connected to said front leg toggle links; another actuator link' pivotally'connected rto said-rear legQtogg-le links; and common pivot pin passingthrough-'-- said actuator links and ymounted upon thebackmember for moving. said actuator links 'and th'e interconnected toggle'links ltozmove the "front-legs and rear legs into folded 1? position and extended position'respectivelywhen :the' back rest is moved into folded and extended positionsh r 4s A foldable chair comprising a seat member; a .back membenhaving a pair'of' plates fix'ed thereon at Opposite sides'and pivoted to said seat member; front legs pivoted to the seat member for-movement into either a folded oran extended position; rear legs having plates fixed thereon and als'opivoted to said seatmernberfor movement- 0f the rear legs into either a' foldedor an extended position',"-and being spaced fromeach other differently-than the front legs so that one set o'f 'legs folds Within theconfines of the other set of legs; means connected to said back member plates for automatically moving said front legs and rear legs-from'the-folded position into extended. position when said back memberis moved from itsfolded position; and means on said back rest plates 'co'a'ctingwith means onsaid rear leg plates to -limit movement of the back restand support it in extended position when the legs are in extended position.

5. A foldable chair comprising a seat member; a back member pivoted to said seat member for movement either into a folded or an extended position; front legs pivoted to the seat member; a pair of toggle links pivoted respectively to the seat member and front legs and pivoted together intermediate these pivots; rear legs pivoted to the seat member, spaced from each other differently than the front legs so that one set of legs folds within the confines of the other set of legs; another pair of toggle links pivoted respectively to the seat member and rear legs and pivoted together intermediate the pivots; an actuator link pivotally connected to one of said front leg toggle links; another actuator link pivotally connected to said rear leg toggle links; and pivotal connections between the back member and said actuator links for moving the interconnected toggle links to move the front legs and rear legs into folded position and extended position respectively when the back rest is moved into folded and extended positions.

6. A foldable chair comprising a seat member; sheet metal brackets adjacent the rear edge thereof; a back member having a pair of plates fixed thereon at opposite sides and pivoted to said brackets to permit movement of the back member into either a folded or an extended position; front legs pivoted to the seat member; a pair of toggle links pivoted respectively to the seat member and front legs and pivoted together intermediate these pivots; rear legs having plates fixed thereon and also pivoted to said brackets, spaced from each other differently than the front legs so that one set of legs folds within the confines of the other set of legs; a pair of toggle links pivoted respectively to the seat member and rear leg plates and pivoted together intermediate these pivots; and link connections between said front leg and rear leg toggle links and said back member plate to move said front and rear legs into folded position and extended position when the back member is moved into folded and extended positions respectively.

links, each connected at one end to the seat :mem-

her and at the other end to one of the legs and having an intermediate pivot connecting said links; and actuator links each having a pivotal connection at one end with the pivotally mounted back member to be moved thereby and at its other end being connected to an intermediate pivot, to

fold and extend the toggle connection and thereinterconnected rear legs; plates on the rear legs by the legs conjointly with the folding and extending of the back member.

8. A foldable chair comprising av seat member; sheet metal brackets on the seat member adjacent the rear edge thereof; a back member; a pair of plates on the back member at opposite sides thereof and pivoted to saidbrackets; front legs pivoted to the seat member; rear legs; plates on the rear legs pivoted to said brackets; two sets of toggle links, each connected at one end to the seat member and at the other end to one of the front legs; two long actuator links, one connected to eachset of said front leg toggle links; two sets of toggle links, each connected at one end with the seat member and at the other end with one of the rear leg plates; two short actuator links, one

connected to each set of rear leg toggle links; and

a pair of pivots, one on each of said back member plates, each connecting one long and one short actuator link to said back member plates to operate said sets of front leg and rear leg toggle links and thereby effect movement of the front legs and rear legs conjointly with the back member into folded and extended positions.

4 9. A foldable chair comprising a seat member; sheet metal brackets on the seat member adjacent the rear edges thereof; a back member; a pair of plates on the back member at opposite sides thereof and pivoted to said brackets; interconnected front legs pivoted to the seat member;

pivoted to said brackets; a set of toggle'links connected at one end to the seat member and at the other end to a front leg; a long actuator link connected to said set of front leg toggle links; a set of toggle links connected at one end with the seat member and at the other end with a rear leg plate; a short actuator link connected to said set of rear leg toggle links; and a pivot on said back member plate connecting said long and said short actuator links to the back member plate, to operate said sets of front leg and rear leg toggle links and thereby effect movement of the front legs and rear legs conjointly with the back member into folded and extended positions.

JOHN KOVATS. 

